Buffalo Mountain Shirt - Pack size?

[FKeate]

Hi all,

Recently been looking at splurging and getting myself a Buffalo shirt, but no where, oh no where can I find any information on how well they pack down! Does anyone have any experience with them? My alternative purchase would be something like the Montane fireball jacket which I intend to go and check out in my local store (and I found one review which described it as packing down to "about the size of three large peppers" which I actually thought was great)
So yes, can anyone give me a rough idea of how small a Buffalo will go?
Cheers!

 

[Limaed]

Pile is pretty bulky but it does compress a little bit. I have got my medium Buffalo jacket into a 3 litre dry sack but its a real squeeze so I would say the 5 litre dry bag is the better option.

The Montane and Buffalo are like chalk and cheese - the Montane is just a jacket where as the Buffalo is more of a clothing system. Montane make good kit but Buffalo's last forever. Pile / Pertex tends to be more durable than other synthetics but heavier too. Some synthetic insulated jackets aren't that warm.

Horses for courses I guess.

 

[FKeate]

Thanks, yeah I guess I'm looking at two really rather different bits of kit. If only I could afford both... (lets be honest, I'm a student, I can't even afford one, but I guess I can cut back on my heating bills next winter if I wear it round the house!)

 

[Tonyuk]

The buffalo isn't bad pack wise. i would recommend the special 6 instead of the mountain shirt. You get a thicker, more windproof material and its a bit longer overall.

Look into the montane extreme too. You can try them on in go outdoors. A bit nicer than a buffalo i think.

 

[Highbinder]

I have a Montane extreme smock and it packs down to a bit more than 5 litres. What is nice is that you can use the hood as a makeshift pouch to pack the jacket into.

 

[FKeate]

Rightio, cheers guys!

 

[bearbait]

FWIW I roll my Special 6 up into its hood for packing. Just measured it for you at at 28cm x 20cm x 18cm approx. uncompressed. If you had it in a dry bag or squished in your pack it would go smaller.

I rate Buffalo gear quite highly. As Limaed says above it lasts forever, and that has been my experience. Plus they'll repair their gear for you: I had a zip replaced on their Gilet after many years wear and tear for just a few pounds.

 

[FKeate]

Thanks for the advice bearbait and thanks for taking the time to measure it (sorry it's taken so long to reply it's been a busy few days). I think I'm pretty set on getting myself a buffalo, apparently the waiting list is so long it'll be mid June before I can get one, though if people are willing to wait that long it's got to be a good sign!

Thanks all.